Guardrails Eyed for High School NIL

A state House committee advanced legislation that aims to protect high school athletes from long-term name, image, and likeness deals.

The proposal would require contracts to end when the student graduates from high school, preventing deals that follow them into adulthood without their full understanding.

Currently, about 100 prep athletes in the state have NIL deals, mostly involving free gear or modest endorsement money, according to the Georgia High School Association.

The high school association approved an initial set of regulations governing prep NIL deals in October 2023, including a ban on performance-based incentives.

  Ponzi Scheme Probe Advances

Veteran fraud attorney Jason Doss of Atlanta was appointed to lead the state’s investigation into an alleged $140 million Ponzi scheme run by First Liberty and Loan in Newnan.

Federal investigators shut down First Liberty last summer, saying founder Brant Frost IV bilked 300 investors, spending part of the money on luxury items and Republican political donations.

Last month, an Aston Martin and other luxury vehicles seized from Frost and his family members were put up for auction to repay the victims.

“What we have uncovered so far is shocking,” said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who appointed Doss to the case. “This is a complex investigation, and victims across our state are hurting. They’ve been robbed of their retirement, and their future is uncertain.”

Storm Preparedness Week Underway

Georgia’s observance of Severe Weather Preparedness Week continues through Friday, with residents urged to review emergency plans ahead of spring storms.

The National Weather Service released a set of informational sheets on family preparedness and thunderstorm, tornado, lightning, and flood safety. Today at 9:30 a.m., the weather service will broadcast a test tornado warning message on NOAA Weather Radio.

Communities plan to test their tornado warning sirens while encouraging residents to sign up for their local emergency notification systems.

The state emergency management agency provides a checklist for what to include in a storm readiness kit here.

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➤ Alpharetta: Jackson Healthcare founder Rick Jackson filed to run for governor as a Republican and seeded his campaign with $50 million. (More)

➤ Bryan County: Westwin Elements’ proposed nickel refinery sparked debate at a town hall, with the company touting the benefits of the U.S.-based project while critics cited health and safety concerns. (More)

➤ DeKalb County: Jail records show Kevin Andrews, the suspect in the weekend shooting death of a Gwinnett County police officer, had previously been arrested 22 times since 2009, including for allegedly shooting a woman. Recent charges include methamphetamine possession, with judges releasing him from jail on bond over prosecutors’ objections. (More)

➤ Savannah: Hundreds of community members will travel to Atlanta today for the area’s annual Savannah Chatham County Day at the state legislature. (More)

➤ Jonesboro: The city council voted to make possession of small amounts of marijuana a misdemeanor, subject to a $150 civic fine instead of jail time. (More)

➤ Albany: Police asked the public’s help in solving the October homicide of Malcolm Davis, 36, who was fatally shot at the intersection of Broad Avenue and Front Street. (More)

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➤ The Atlanta Braves may launch their own television network after the team and others terminated broadcast partnerships with FanDuel Sports Network over a payment dispute. (More)

➤ Georgia women’s basketball dropped out of the AP Top 25 rankings this week. (See Full Poll)

➤ Georgia football secured a commitment from Kemon Spell, considered the No. 1 running back in the 2027 recruiting class. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ The state Senate approved a bill requiring restaurants to disclose to customers if shrimp is imported instead of caught off the Georgia coast, sending the measure to the House. (More)

➤ BroadbandOne and Georgia Business Net will partner on a project to bring enterprise-grade broadband connectivity to the Augusta area. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Slip Robotics launched SlipLift, an autonomous loading solution designed to cut dock wait times and boost efficiency. (See Photos)

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The Tale Behind SpaceX’s $1.5 Trillion IPO

SpaceX plans to IPO at a $1.5T valuation. If true, they’d be the tenth-most-valuable public company by the time the average person can invest.

The lesson? Like Uber, which delivered 490,000% returns to First Round Capital, the biggest growth today comes at the private stage.

A similar dynamic is playing out in lithium, with EnergyX crossing a $1B private valuation. Only this time, you can invest at the private stage, too.

Why did big names like General Motors already back EnergyX? Because lithium powers everything from EVs to data centers. Demand will grow 5X by 2040, and EnergyX’s tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods.

➤ The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform at the Augusta Air Show in April 2027, event organizers said. (More)

➤ Several new restaurants opened across metro Atlanta last month, adding upscale tasting menus, neighborhood cafes, breweries, and global cuisine. (More)

➤ A Valentine’s Day-timed survey found that Georgians’ favorite romantic comedy is Pretty Woman, chosen as a favorite by 29% of respondents. Nationally, When Harry Met Sally edged out Pretty Woman for the top spot. (More)

Do you consider yourself romantic?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Sometimes

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you shop around for prices before a medical procedure?

1. Never: 34%
2. Rarely: 25%
3. Sometimes: 22%
4. Always: 19%

Which two months are the busiest for tornadoes in Georgia?

Show me the answer